Cassius Winston's 3-point barrage lifts Michigan State past Wisconsin

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo discusses his team's 68-63 win over Wisconsin to claim the Big Ten title outright for the first time since 2009. Izzo also comments on Miles Bridges' link to FBI investigation into NCAA. Recorded Sunday, Feb. 25.
Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press

“I was just feeling it,” Winston said. “I got a little space. It was one of those days I was just knocking it down.”

The 6-foot point guard added six rebounds and five assists in a career-high 38 minutes. He is 16-for-20 from 3-point range in the Spartans’ last four games and has grabbed five or more boards in four of their last five games.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, right, pleads with referee D.J. Carstensen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Andy Manis, AP

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For the season, Winston is now 70 of 124 from 3-point range. He leads the Big Ten at 56.5 percent from behind the arc. His 7.0 assists per contest were tied for eighth in the NCAA entering Sunday.

“Cassius has improved enormously,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “And I’m proud of him, because like every coach goes with different players, sometimes a player or people don’t like the way you push them. But they believe in you, you believe in him, they get better, you get better, the kid gets better. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Cassius Winston and, in all honesty, our basketball team.”

Jackson cold

Like it was for sophomore Miles Bridges, it also was a rough game for Jaren Jackson Jr. And just like for his teammate, the freshman came up big when MSU needed it most.

Jackson made just 3 of 10 shots, including missing his first five 3-point attempts. However, the 6-11 forward hit a critical 3-pointer with 5:36 to play.

“He had some great 3 looks and just missed them,” Izzo said of Jackson. “I think he was getting a little down.”

Then, Jackson went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 1:32, both 1-and-1 situations, to finish with 11 points.

“My team seemed a little discombobulated, if you want the truth,” Izzo said. “They did not seem mentally as into it. Physically, they were and they tried to play hard. … But I understand some of that. Any time you hit free throws down the stretch, it matters.”

Jackson added six rebounds, two blocks and two steals as well.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, right, pleads with referee D.J. Carstensen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)(Photo: Andy Manis, AP)

Stephens denied the allegations in a statement on Saturday, and Izzo briefly addressed them on Sunday.

“I do have a long relationship with his dad,” Izzo said. “I was not involved in this thing at all.”

CLOSE

Miles Bridges discusses being cleared by Michigan State and the NCAA to play after MSU's win over Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Madison, Wis. Video by Chris Solari/DFP

Dawkins’ father, Lou, spent seven years at Saginaw High and was former MSU star Draymond Green’s head coach there. Lou Dawkins currently in his first year as an assistant coach at Cleveland State after working for former Izzo assistant Mark Montgomery at Northern Illinois for six years.

Also, Lou Dawkins’ younger son, Dorian, died from a heart condition while participating at an MSU basketball camp in 2009. He was 14.

Tillman shines

Izzo gave Xavier Tillman a chance to start the second half over sophomore forward Nick Ward, and the freshman put together a strong showing.

Tillman made 2 of 3 shots, including a three-point play with 11:04 to play after Wisconsin tied the game, 42-42. The 6-8 forward also equaled his career best with five rebounds and three blocks in his 12 minutes.